REPORT | HALF CENTURIES AND DEFAULTS
REPORT | HALF CENTURIES AND DEFAULTS
Round 11 – hot from Tighthead Ted’s telegraph
In this week’s matches, Thames had Whangamata on the ropes as stumps were drawn, struggling at 55-5, while Mercury Bay skittled Paeroa for 64. Ah, hang on, wrong sport, ol’ Tighthead’s been watching too much 20/20. Anyway, a pair of half tons for the winners this week, as teams began flexing their muscles as semi-finals approach.
Unfortunately, the team with the biggest flex this season, Waihi, won by default after COBRAS pulled the pin on Friday. However, a rest before next week’s clash of the titans against Paeroa might not be a bad thing. These two teams have one loss between them this season, and this match is potentially a foreshadowing of the final, but I expect Waihou and Whangamata will have something to say about this next week.
But we digress, this week’s matches – read on MacBeth.
THAMES v WHANGAMATA
Rhodes Park Ice Rink, Thames. Referee: D Tui
A cold and blustery afternoon greeted the teams in this must win match for Whangamata. Thames, depleted by injuries, as most teams have been this season, still managed to field a competitive fifteen, and kept Whangamata honest for the full eighty.
It looked ominous for the Taniwha early however, as the Red ‘n’ Whites exploded in the opening minutes. A try to lock Finn McCall after a minute when Thames were caught napping waiting for a kick to the sidelines, which was duly tapped and after a couple of passes, a forty metre run in for the five pointer.
A few minutes later and a short side attack saw Takarangi Kerepeti put Tupou Tonga in for his weekly try. A conversion from Tiaontin Raroren, it was 12-0 after ten minutes, and the floodgates looked to be opening.
Thames were made of sterner stuff though, and on the back of some strong running from number-eight Laulea Mau, and astute decision making from Mitch Murphy fought their way back into the game. A try for Murphy from his own kick and chase and nasty bounce saw them back into the fight. A 5-12 scoreline at the break would have been just reward for the Taniwha, who defended well, and forced many errors from the hungry, but trying too hard Whangamata side. It was not to be though, with Ben Clarke slicing through a tiring defence in the 39th minute to blow the score out to 19-5.
The second half started with a hiss and a roar for Whangamata, and two tries in the first ten minutes. The first to winger Sonny Rau, dotting down for his fifth try of the season after a jinking crossfield run from Clarke. Then the Whanga’ pack flexed and drove hooker Jack O’Halloran over from a lineout. The score blowing out from 5-19 to 5-31, and the floodgates had been forced open again.
The tries kept coming at regular intervals through to full time, with subs dotting down for the four final five pointers as Whangamata ran the bench with plenty of time left on the clock.
While the score did quickly mount, at no stage did Thames make it easy for the visitors. The scores were hard earned, except for perhaps when big Thames lock Corbin Saunders had a clearing kick charged down and Fozz Gilbert took the easiest of tries under the bar! But we won’t mention that!
Speaking of Mr Saunders, but for that kick, the big man had a massive match, carting the ball forward (usually) for the full eighty, and tackling himself to a standstill. His locking partner Luke Chambers was impressive too, tireless on defence and a great source of lineout pill. Number eight Mau was a menace with ball in hand, and Mitch Murphy as always was in the thick of everything, starting at ten before slotting into halfback after injury. Also worthy of a mention hooker Tate Payze, gutsy for the duration.
Among Whangamata’s best were props Jordan Cordice and veteran Brad Laurenson. Cordice’s highlights included a couple of big runs, looking like a cross between a giraffe and a baby elephant as he galloped up the field. Laurenson, also a hybrid giraffe/baby elephant in his younger days, has turned into a tackling machine, and again this week put in many big hits. His pre-season training regime* is paying off. Flankers Jake Barfoot and Jacob Chaplin were menaces over the ball, and dangerous on the carry.
Halfback Tiaontin Raoren had his lethal running game on display and distributed well. Midfielder Joe Perawiti was powerful and led many charges, while out wide at fullback, Telly Hemopo must have had the Valley selectors sitting up and taking notice.
Next week Thames travel to Mercury Bay for their final match of the season, in what should be a cracker – both sides out of the race for semifinals, so nothing to lose. On the hard track at Whitianga it should be open rugby and plenty of tries we hope!
Whangamata are off to Te Aroha to take on Waihou, who already beat them this season. With Waihi playing Paeroa in the match of the round, winner and loser in this match could face either of the big boys a week later. So, all to play for regardless.
Thames 5 (M Murphy try), lost to Whangamata 55 (F McCall, T Tonga, B Clarke, S Rau, J O’Halloran, C Tuilotolava, T Bond, K Gilbert, D Dyer tries; T Raoren 5 conversions). HT 5-19
PAEROA v MERCURY BAY
Centennial Park, Paeroa. Ref: S Pinny
With one game in a month, and no game for a fortnight, Paeroa were champing at the bit for some time on the field with a referee’s whistle blowing, instead of a coach’s. And it showed in the early stages of the match as forced passes, missed tackles, wrong options and general over enthusiasm saw the Green Machine make life hard for themselves. This along with Mercury Bay hitting the ground running in the first twenty-five minutes, and forcing many of the errors and bad decisions, kept the scoreline at 14-10 through the first quarter and a bit.
However, as Paeroa shook off the ring rust, and started to hit their straps, their big men running at the depleted Bay side, holes started to appear and tries started to be scored. Two tries late in the half blowing the score out to 26-10.
The second forty saw the home side crack the game wide open, two quick tries to Coel Kerr and Tyrone Keith putting paid to any chance of a Marlin’s fight back, and with Kerr completing his hat trick, and a penalty try by the 54-minute mark, it looked like Paeroa could rack up a massive score.
Brave defence from the visitors kept the home side scoreless for the next twenty minutes before Silao Talimao scored his second. Not to be outdone, Whiti’ scored a nice try through teenager Jacob Corley. Paeroa finished the day with hooker Brooklin Toia dotting down for a well-deserved try.
Standing out for the Green Machine, in a great team effort were hooker Toia with big tackling and dangerous ball carrying. Number eight Silao Talimao, who relished the close quarter running and Tyrone Keith of the backs was outstanding.
Mercury Bay’s best were prop Anzac Waterhouse, Coleville Green at fullback, and Taine Wilson in the midfield. Yes, Taine Wilson, becoming the first man to be able to hang three club team photos from the same season in the hallway. Four photos if you add in the Mongoose B team, he’s going to have to get a bigger hallway – but well done mate, Tighthead Ted hopes you managed to accidentally take home a jersey from each team…
Paeroa travel to Waihi next week for a match for the ages – if it’s half as good as Tighthead Ted thinks it’s going to be, it’ll be twice as good as that bloody Super Rugby final… Mercury Bay await Thames in what will top match too, both teams wanting to head into summer with a final win.
Paeroa 64 (O Te Oka-Cox, H Beazley, C Kerr 3, S Talimao 2, T Keith, B Toia, penalty tries; N Emery 6 conversions) beat Mercury Bay 17 (C Green, J Corley tries; C Curren 2 conversions, penalty). HT 26-10
*Veteran Prop Pre Season Training Programme. Watch two matches of the A team, play two matches for the B team, and then into it, none of that gym or running carry-on, that’s for beginners. Copyright B Laurenson 2011-2024
SENIOR B
Whangamata 13 lost to Coromandel 19
Waihou 42 beat Waihi 19
SENIOR C
Ngatea 16 lost to North 18
Mercury Bay 12 lost to Thames 32
UNDER 21
Hamilton Marist 59 beat Rugby United 14